Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Philippines exits FATF greylist
PAGCOR's anti-money laundering unit published an advisory on the Philippines' exit from the FATF greylist, setting out its contributions and the compliance steps it says casinos and other licensees must keep meeting.
Anti-gambling groups protest Entertainment Complex Bill near Government House
Anti-gambling groups staged a protest at Chamai Maruchet Bridge near Government House on March 2 against Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill, which includes legalized casinos.
Gambling Addiction Countermeasures Basic Plan published
Japan's National Tax College published a research paper on taxing horse racing payouts, examining when betting income counts as occasional or miscellaneous income and how losing tickets are treated.
Public comment period on casino bill ends
Thailand's third round of public consultation on the amended casino-entertainment complex bill runs until 1 March 2025, after which the draft returns to the Cabinet with tighter restrictions added by the Council of State.
PAGCOR Regulatory Framework for Offenses and Penalties (Remote Gaming Operations) Rev. No. 2 takes effect
PAGCOR's revised framework for offenses and penalties in remote gaming operations took effect on 27 February 2025, setting fines for operators and service providers and repealing inconsistent earlier issuances.
401 foreigners arrested in raid on alleged POGO scam hub in Pasay City
Philippine authorities raided a 10-storey building in Pasay City on February 26, 2025, arresting 401 foreign workers at an alleged POGO scam hub and closing the establishment.
Electricity cut from 470 online gambling premises in Johor since January 2024
Johor police say 470 online gambling premises had their electricity cut and 88 business licenses revoked between January 2024 and February 26, 2025, with 86 premises cut in the latest two-day operation.
Madras High Court issues notices on gaming companies' plea against Tamil Nadu KYC and blank-hour regulations
The Madras High Court has issued notices to the Tamil Nadu and Union governments on a batch of petitions by online gaming companies challenging mandatory KYC and a nightly blank hour for real money games.
Feb 25 and 26 operation cuts power at 86 premises across 12 districts
Malaysian authorities cut electricity to 86 premises across 12 Johor districts on Feb 25 and 26 under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, seizing equipment from eight and revoking eight licenses.
Interior minister doubts cabinet will approve casino entry deposit rule
Thailand's interior minister said a proposed rule requiring Thais to hold 50 million baht in fixed deposits before entering casinos is unlikely to win cabinet approval.
453 arrested in POGO raid in Paranaque City
Philippine authorities arrested 453 workers, including 146 foreigners, at an alleged illegal offshore gaming and scamming hub in Parañaque City on February 20, 2025.
People's networks submit objection to casino bill
People's networks including the Kon Thai Ropattana student network, Dhamma Army and the Centre for People's Protection of the Monarchy submitted a protest letter at Thailand's Council of State demanding casinos be removed from the draft entertainment complex bill.
Revised draft of Entertainment Complex Bill published
A revised draft of Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill, published on Feb 15, would cap casino space at 10 percent of an integrated resort and require casinos to be walled off with their own gates and entrances.
Prize structure revised, maximum 1st prize raised to JPY 1,200,000,000 with carryover
Japan's Loto 7 lottery revised the expected prize amounts for its first four tiers from draw 613, raising the maximum first prize to JPY 1,200,000,000 when a carryover is active.
Minister reports over 93 percent of removed gambling content came from Facebook
Malaysia's communications minister told parliament that 209,006 of 224,403 gambling-related content items removed from online platforms since 2022 came from Facebook, with 5,026 gambling sites blocked.
Tamil Nadu notifies Real Money Games Regulations 2025
Tamil Nadu's online gaming authority has notified real money game regulations imposing mandatory AADHAAR-based KYC, daily blank hours from 12am to 5am, and pop-up caution messages on players.
Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (Real Money Games) Regulations, 2025 published in Gazette
Tamil Nadu's Online Gaming Authority has published regulations for real money online games, imposing a curfew, mandatory Aadhaar-based KYC and age limits, effective on publication in the state gazette.
Thai police raid Tiger24 gambling network, arrest 10 and seize over 100 million baht
Thai police arrested 10 suspects and seized more than 100 million baht in cash and assets linked to the Tiger24 gambling website after raids across four provinces.
Palang Pracharath Party vows to oppose entertainment complex bill
Thailand's opposition Palang Pracharath Party said on Wednesday it will oppose the government's entertainment complex bill and raise casino legalization in a censure debate expected next month.
Cambodia forms national-level commission on combating online scams
Cambodia says it raised its anti-online-scam command structure to a national-level commission under Prime Minister Hun Manet in February 2025, a step he described at a Phnom Penh conference in September 2026.
Government announces plan to explore regulating basketball betting
Hong Kong's Financial Secretary announced in the 2025-26 Budget that the Government will explore regulating basketball betting and has invited the Jockey Club to submit a proposal, with a consultation paper published in April 2025.
Lim Kok Thay steps down as Genting CEO
Lim Kok Thay stepped down as chief executive of Genting in February 2025 after almost two decades in the role, and remains executive chairman of the casino and resorts group.
PCSO raises lotto ticket price and minimum jackpots
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office raised the price of a lotto ticket from PHP 20 to PHP 25 and lifted minimum jackpots across all five major lotto games, effective February 2025.
Police dismantle six major illegal gambling syndicates
Hong Kong Police dismantled six major local gambling syndicates between 2024 and February 2025, arresting 107 people and seizing about HKD 2 billion in betting records tied to illegal sports and online casino betting.
Public hearings on Thailand's draft casino law scheduled
Thailand's Office of the Council of State has issued a draft casino law requiring Thai nationals to hold 50 million baht in fixed deposits, with public hearings set for February 15 to March 1.
Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority notifies Real Money Games Regulations, 2025
Tamil Nadu's online gaming authority has notified real money gaming regulations imposing age limits, Aadhaar-based KYC, spending caps and a nightly login ban from midnight to 5am.
Government gives Council of State 50 days to review entertainment complex bill
Thailand's cabinet has given the Council of State 50 days to review the entertainment complex bill, and the deputy prime minister says the draft law needs no referendum.
MCMC requested takedown of over 18,000 law-violating content items since 1 January
Malaysia's communications regulator asked social media platforms to remove 18,785 pieces of unlawful content in the first three weeks of 2025, with 84 percent of it tied to online gambling and scams.
Betting and Lotteries Commission opens public consultation on simulcast proposal
Hong Kong's Betting and Lotteries Commission has opened a public consultation on a Hong Kong Jockey Club proposal to raise the caps on simulcast overseas races and simulcast days from the 2025/26 season.
Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill approved in principle
Thailand's cabinet approved the Entertainment Complex Bill in principle on 13 January 2025, a draft law that would allow up to five casino resorts inside large entertainment complexes.